Improvement in fire-escapes



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JAMES E. TREQNQR. Qmprovement in Fire Escapes. @85 121 826. Patented DES-12,3871.

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UNITED STATES JAMES J. TREANOR, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IM PROVEMENT IN FlRE-ESCAPES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 121,826, dated December 12, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I JAMEs J. TREANOR, of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improved Fire-Escape; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, sufficient to enable those skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing making part of this specification, and to the letters and figures marked thereon.

My invention relates to that class of fire-escapes which are attached underneath window-sills in houses, and which, when they are to be used, are let out of the window so that persons may escape thereon from the building, the ladder being made long enough to reach from the window to the ground. It consists of a chain-ladder secured to a reel, which reel is fastened to the door of a recess or closet made underneath the window. This door is secured to the window-frame or in the wall by two or more curved links, connecting four or more like halves of hinges, which links are made long enough to allow the door to be turned over on the sill and project out from the Wall. The door is further secured by braces or hooks which engage with staples attached to the window-frame.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a view of a window, underneath the sill of which the fire-escape is kept, the View being taken from the inside of the room. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section of Fig. 1, showing the arrangement of the devices underneath the sill, in the recess provided for its reception. Fig. 3 is a perspective view, illustrating the manner of using the fire-escape.

A represents the Window-sill, the inner portion of which should be made removable, sliding in and out, or otherwise. B is arecess or closet made underneath the sill, of nearly the width of the sill, and extending therefrom to the floor or washboard. 0 is the door concealing the recess or closet. It is secured thereto by four or more like halves of hingestwo on the door and two on the wall inside of the recess. These are connected by two curved links, a a, which are made of such lengthas to allow the door 0 to be turned over on the window-sill, as shown in Fig. 3 and in dotted lines in Fig. 2. When thus turned over the door serves as a platform, and projects from the building a foot or more, for the purpose mentioned below. The curved links, by lapping somewhat over the door when it is in this position, and also by resting against the under side of the sill, serve as braces to hold the door, which is further secured by hooks or braces b b attached to the door, and engaging with staples driven in the window-frame, as plainly seen in Fig. 3, thus insuring safety. The ladder, which is made with chain sides and metal rounds, as shown at c, is secured to a reel, D, which is firmly attached to the door on its inside, as is all the mechanism. (See Figs. 2 and 3.) As the ladder is wound ofi' the reel it is passed through a guide, d, which prevents it from swinging too much or getting off the platform.

By having the door or platform project beyond the house somewhat the person on the ladder is not so liable to suffer from the heat of the burning building as if the ladder were simply thrown from the window-sill.

When in use the fire-escape is arranged as shown in Fig. 3, and ingress to and egress from the house may be readily had. When not in use the door is turned over and fits underneath the sill, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the ladder having been wound around the reel, and the braces I) released from the staples in the window-frame and secured in staples e on the door. The door is then secured by catches or buttons, as shown, and the inner portion of the sill is replacedit having been previously removed to allow of the door being turned over on the sill.

These fire-escapes may be arranged in all of the upper stories of houses, and, being simple, can be easily operated, rendering escape from the building comparatively easy.

The door to the recess or closet may be so painted or ornamented, or finished in conformity with the rest of the room, as not to mar the appearance of the window.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The door (J,provided with the ladder 0, reel D, braces b, and guide d, when said door is so hinged to the interior of the wall as to be capable of being turned over on the window-sill to 3. The combination of the doorGJadder c,reel form a platform, in (110 manner and for thv pnr- 1), links a, and hinges and braces I), arranged pose herein shown and described. as shown and described.

2. The links a a of the hingvs, securing thmlonr JAMES J. TREANOR. to the Wall, said links heing mirveil so as to form Witnesses: braces for securing the door tn the sill when in THOMAS A. MCBAIN,

use, substantially as shown and described. U. VVELCH. (79) 

